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The Irishman made a bold opening, but was eventually worn down by the American in Las Vegas

Floyd Mayweather delivered on his promise to stop Conor McGregor – but he didn’t have it all his own way.

The boxing legend lost the opening three rounds but found his rhythm to stop the Irishman in the 10th session

In doing so Mayweather stretched his record to 50-0, past the legendary heavyweight Rocky Marciano, having come out of a two-year retirement.

But McGregor defied the predictions of many boxing pundits on his professional debut in Las Vegas.

Mayweather proved too good for McGregor(Image: USA Today Sports)

McGregor goes in on Mayweather early doors(Image: Getty Images North America)

McGregor started very strongly(Image: Getty Images North America)

Mayweather spent much of the early rounds in the ropes(Image: Getty Images North America)

Having been roared into the ring by the thousands of Irish fans in the T-Mobile Arena, McGregor started as he had promised – on the front foot.

The two-weight UFC champion slung his hands low and forced Mayweather back against the ropes.

At one stage he crossed his hands behind his back in nonchalance.

With one round to his name, McGregor was warned in the second for hitting to the back of the head.

Conor McGregor taunts Floyd Mayweather(Image: Getty Images)

But Mayweather was more than happy with the early going(Image: REUTERS)

It would be the first of several illegal moves but it was still the underdog who was landing the telling blows

McGregor kept up his early pace in the third round, even if his renowned KO power didn’t seem to have transferred from the Octagon to the ring. But despite finding himself in arrears, Mayweather remained patient before hitting back.

McGregor began to show the first signs of fatigue in the fourth round as the five-weight world champion roared into life.

Eventually Mayweather took control(Image: REUTERS)

Tired McGregor hangs on(Image: Getty Images)

Referee Robert Byrd was required again in the sixth as McGregor was issued with another warning.

At the halfway stage the scores were level, but the traffic was one-way. From then on, it was a case of when, not if, Mayweather finished the fight.

He piled on the pressure on the ninth stanza and – sensing blood – the crowd rose to add their encouragement

McGregor managed to return to his stool but looked exhausted when he emerged from the corner.

And Mayweather was in no mood to hang around, landing at will until referee Byrd stepped in.

Mayweather celebrates(Image: Zuffa LLC/Getty Images)

Victory for Mayweather(Image: Getty Images North America)

The now-retired-again Mayweather said: “I think we gave the fans what they wanted to see. I owed them for the Pacquiao fight. I had to come straight ahead and give the fans a show. That’s what ​I​ gave them​.​

“He’s a lot better than I thought he’d be. He’s a tough competitor, but ​I​ was the better man tonight.

“Our game plan was to take our time, go to him, let him shoot his shots early and then take him out down the stretch. We know in MMA he fights for 25 minutes. After 25 minutes, he started to slow down. I guaranteed to everybody that this wouldn’t go the distance.”

McGregor was unhappy with the stoppage(Image: REUTERS)McGregor, however, said he felt the stoppage was premature.

He added: “He’s composed, he’s not that fast, he’s not that powerful, but boy is he composed in there.

“I thought it was close though and I thought it was a bit of an early stoppage. I was just a little fatigued. He was just a lot more composed with his shots.

“I have to give it to him, that’s what 50 pro fights will do for you.”